Blog Assignment #3

July 10, 2008 mjbisign

            In order to be a strong reader and writer there are some abilities and knowledge you need to have. In the article “Helping Students Use Textual Sources Persuasively” by Margaret Kantz, she makes it clear that a good reader and writer works hard to gather their sources. By having sources that you can converse with, the idea of not restating and paraphrasing will be easier to achieve. A good writer is someone who can take the information that is gathered and create a whole new idea and opinion based off of their knowledge that they gained. Bits and pieces from each source, what a good reader will feel is important, is brought together into new ideas that the writer creates. As in any type of writing as well, the subject should be interesting to the reader and a little creativity should be used.

            Kantz believes that a strong sustained research assignment starts with the right sources. By choosing sources from different points of view and periods of time, alternating opinions are slowly leaked through and this is the initial aspect of finding an interesting research topic. After reviewing the sources and the information that is available, Kantz feels that the writer should be able to invent an original problem and purpose that will sustain the readers attention while also causing them to question the problem brought up. As a result of the sources then conversing with each other throughout the paper, the argument should be strong and effective.

            Although rhetorically thinking facts and opinions are both claims, they are distinguished by the way the audience receives them. A fact the reader will accept as true without requiring proof, while an opinion will not be seen as true without proof. This distinction is seen as important because the audience is the one who is forming new opinions based on the overall information given throughout the paper. A fact can also be used as evidence for an opinion so they both work together to form a rich analysis. Rhetoric and rhetorical analysis comes into play in reading and writing according to Kantz in the sense when reading the sources one must be analyzing the information. It cannot be expected that the information is going to all factual and that is where the rhetorical analysis comes in. By looking at the context of the time period in which the source was written, the author, and influential things of that time, it will create a more complete rhetorical analysis for the writing that you are trying to create.

            The ethos, or credibility, that Kantz wants you to create is one that is backed up by sources while also forming new ideas and opinions. The sources are used as a supplement to prove to the audience and persuade them that your thinking is correct. Having facts from your research included will help to validate your point being made as well as convince the audience that you know what you are talking about. Comparing what Kantz advocates to that of the thinking of Edward Said, he can be seen as a role model. Kantz advocates for the kind of reader, writer, and thinker who pieces many outside sources together to come to a conclusion and branch out to prove many points. In Said’s work, he used past historical experiences to explain why orientalism is still present in our society today. Even though his speaking on orientalism was before the incidents on September 11, 2001, it still holds true today now even more than ever. Drawing on past issues to explain current ones is what Kantz wants to be done. She feels that to effectively achieve a successful work you need to look at all angles of your argument.

            In my sustained research argument I will gather sources from many different areas and from different points of view. I will also make sure they are credible so I can attempt to base some of my information off of the facts found. Another thing that will make these sources more credible and useful to me is researching the authors of the sources. Said as well as Kantz believe that you need to see as the experts see in an attempt to get the best experience possible. By understanding the author’s views and opinions on the situation it will be easier to take the information and use it towards a new topic of inquiry. In order to create ethos on my own page I will look into the views of the Iraq war now and even past views such as when the war began. As a result of having sources to compare it begins to create conversation that stimulates even more questions and information. Finding information from veterans will also be very useful because they are going to be as close to firsthand information as you can get. Although it will still be opinionated, the general feel of the veterans and soldiers will be relevant. When moving on with this paper I can see myself facing issues of not knowing where to go exactly with the information I have. I tend to get too much information and have a hard time sorting through all of it. Now that I am aware of my weakness however, I will be more cautious when finding sources and picking out their relevance to my topic. 

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2 Comments Add your own

• 1. sraisner  |  July 14, 2008 at 11:24 pm

  Morgan – I think this blog post is very well written. You seem to have gotten a good grasp from what Kantz is saying (at least in my opinion) and I think you made some very good insights into her work. We both picked up on a lot of the same ideas; creating new ideas, the importance of sources, and fact vs. opinion. You did make a few other points that I really liked. First of all, I liked how you used the word creativity when you were describing creating a new idea from the original idea. I think that word really describes how a good paper can be created. Also, when you were writing about the difference between fact and opinion I really liked how you mentioned focusing on the time period. That is something that I wrote down so now I can remember to look at it when I am doing my research.
  Also, we both made some different points about Said’s video, but I think yours are going to be very helpful. I didn’t exactly look at it from the standpoint of using past historical experiences and I think that is something that will help strengthen research for the final paper.
  I also think that your idea of using research from veterans is a good one. It will be good to bring in information from people with a personal opinion. Do you think that they are going to be an extremely bias source? I feel like veterans have a very distinct outlook on the war and I am not sure if that is going to make your research easier or much harder.
  Overall, I think you made some good points about where you want to go with your paper. Have you decided on what your topic is going to be yet?

• 2. rhetoricsofwar  |  July 15, 2008 at 6:28 am

  HI Morgan and Sally. I agree with you, Sally, in that Morgan does a good job identifying a number of key points that Kantz was emphasizing. I really want ya’ll to think deeply about how you will come up with “original” claims in your work. Morgan, you say, that you often have difficulty knowing what to do with all the information you gather. I think Kantz would suggest for you to find “gaps” in the conversation where you can add your own insights. This means that you have to have a very firm understanding of the conversation at hand, conducted from all ends of the spectrum. This means you also have to have the confidence to say, “Hey. That may be true, but this really needs to be considered.” or “Hey. That is true to some extent, but I think the issue is more complicated than that.” Or “Hey. What you fail to have considered is this…” Or ” That may be true, and this is also true..” Looking for these kinds of gaps will help you figure out what you can do with all that information…..

  Also, realize that you want your own readers to really consider what you have to say. That is why when writing for academic audience, you must show that you have done your homework, have credible knowledge about topic at hand, and offer insights that really get them thinking.

  Your job as a rhetor in this unit is to make your readers think about this issue in ways they have never thought of before. You don’t want your readers to set down your essay and say, “Well that was just her opinion..” You want them to say, “Now that is a very thought provoking point that i should consider…”

  Hope this is helpful…laurie

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